Quick Notes: Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favorites. I'm glad you all seem to like the endearments; I thought they were especially fitting for these two. The next couple of chapters are Paily-rific, I hope you enjoy. As always, let me know what you think. Quick update to follow.

Chapter 11 – Eyes Open

As I brush my teeth for the third consecutive time, I take in the scene around me. For the first time I'm grateful for my family's connections to the hospital, and though I want to punch Dr. Jo in the face right now, I know he had something to do with my room situation. I noticed the quality of my accommodations earlier, but I wasn't fully aware of my luck until I took a good look at the bathroom. My private room includes a private bathroom with a large tub shower. Usually these rooms don't have much more than a tile room with a shower head on the wall, so I'm sure this will cost my parents a fortune, but I'm happy to take advantage right now. With her toothbrush hanging limply out of her mouth, Emily responds to a text message that just came in before setting her phone down on the counter and moving to stand beside me. She resumes brushing her teeth with vigor and looks down into my eyes before shyly spitting into the sink and running the water over her toothbrush. She gives me a wide grin and wipes the excess water from her mouth with her sleeve before leaning down and kissing my forehead. A short knock on the door startles me a bit and Emily moves to answer it.

I spit out a large gob of toothpaste foam and rinse out my mouth before taking a big swig of mouthwash and swishing it around in my mouth. Usually the alcohol burn of the mouthwash has me counting down the seconds until I can spit it out, but as my cheeks ache with the action of swishing the liquid around it hits me that I'm about to shower with Emily Fields. I almost choke before I lean my body over the sink and spit the green mouthwash down the drain. I cough a few times, mentally kicking myself for the action as my ribs ache before I take a few sips of cool water from the paper cup on the sink. I see Emily talking to Spencer in the mirror before she takes a bag from her hands and shuts the door again.

"Hey." The shyness is apparent in her voice as she returns to my side. "My mom and the girls are back. They dropped off some stuff for us and went to check on Caleb. Spencer texted a little while ago wondering where we went. I told her we were going to wash up, so she brought up a bag of shower supplies and some comfy pajamas for us both." I smile at her to let her know my relief at finally getting to clean up. I feel grungy and I'm sure I look even worse.

Emily though, even after everything she's been through, looks amazing. On the plus side, she'll never have to see me this dirty again, so it can only go up from here. I start to get lost in thought before catching her eyes again. She seems apprehensive and I can't blame her. I wouldn't want to get naked with me right now either.

"Em, if you want to wait in the room, I won't be mad. I'm sure I can handle washing up on my own." The look on her face automatically turns from apprehension to all out hurt. What did I say? I was just trying to keep her from having to touch my disgusting body right now. Ugh, I suck.

"Paige? Darling? Do you want me to leave? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable with this whole bath thing, but if I did I can call a nurse for you. You shouldn't do this alone though, it's not safe." She stares at me deeply and I can't formulate an answer right away. Does she want to stay? Or does she just feel obligated to help? She seems genuine, like she wants to take care of me. What should I say? Paige, you're a moron. Think.

Emily starts walking to the door and it finally sinks in that she's going to leave and some stranger is going to come in here and put their hands all over my body. I can't handle that. I don't think I could've handled that before being kidnapped and locked in a closet, but definitely not now. Emily is kneeling before me wiping tears from my cheeks before I even realize I've been crying. The look on her face is comforting; she understands what I'm going through – what I'm feeling. Before I can open my mouth to explain my sudden sensitivity, she stands before me and lifts the scrub shirt up and over her head.

The scene plays out in slow motion in my head. Inch by inch, an expanse of smooth, flawless skin is exposed. Taut muscles flex and release under tan skin with the motion of removing the shirt from her body. A simple dark purple bra appears in gentle contrast to her caramel skin and the sickening pale blue of the walls. My heart rate picks up without my permission and I am overwhelmingly thankful it is no longer being broadcast over a machine. My eyes are glued to the slight ridge of muscle on her flat stomach – halfway between her belly button and her breasts. I see it tremble as she laughs gently, seeing the motion well before the melody of her laughter reaches my ears.

"Paige. Hey, look at me." her demand is soft and calming.

"I am." Her abdomen shakes with that laugh again

"I mean look at my face, darling." With sudden shame I shoot my eyes up to hers. She must think I'm such a guy – ogling her like that. Ugh, nice one Paige.

The look she's wearing is anything but disgusted though. She is smiling slightly – that sexy closed lipped half-smirk. Usually that look tears my breath from my chest, but as I instinctively inhale sharply I discover that I've been holding my breath and there is no more room in my chest. I try to focus on releasing the breath slowly, hoping she won't notice. It becomes obvious that I've failed as she sits gently on the edge of the bathtub and takes my hands between hers. She leans toward me and brings her lips to mine in a sound kiss before pulling back slightly.

"Paige. I think I'm starting to understand and I really don't want you to worry. You are beautiful and sexy and irresistible, so I'll have to exercise a lot of self-control to get through this. I know you probably don't feel attractive right now, I know I don't, but please believe me when I say you are breathtaking. So, how about we take this one step at a time, love? If you feel uncomfortable at any point, let me know and I'll give you some space – and I'm sure you'll do the same for me, right?" I nod dumbly. "I love you and more than anything I want to help you and be here for you. This is not an obligation or guilt; it isn't pity or a way to make myself feel better about putting you in this situation to begin with. Let me help" she says as that smirk returns to her mouth "I promise you won't regret it."

I want to duck my head down more than anything right now. The relief of her words washes over me and I feel the blush rise in my cheeks and neck. I try and steady my breath and bring my hand to the back of my neck. The loose bow holding my hospital gown together is harder to release than I thought.

Emily stands in front of me again. She grips the waistband of her pants and quickly lowers them down over her hips and lets them fall to the floor. Before I can take in the sight of her before me, she moves behind my chair and unties the knot holding the thin material of my gown to my body. It falls from my neck, exposing my breasts to the cool air of the bathroom. The fabric pools at my waist and neither of us makes any move to remove it completely. She's giving me a minute to adjust. I look over my shoulder and see that she has her eyes closed, breathing heavy and she's trembling slightly. She's giving herself a minute to adjust as well. I reach back and grip her hand, pulling her to stand in front of me again. I draw her into a somewhat awkward one armed hug and gasp as her bra clad breasts press against my own naked ones. She inhales sharply at the same sensation and I can't help but smile. She feels it too.

I release my grip on her back and bring my hand up to unclasp her bra. She stiffens as the clasp releases before pulling back. Our eyes stay glued to each other's as she lowers the straps over her shoulders and allows her bra fall to the floor.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Emily Fields is standing in front of me in just her panties. Focus, this is not sexual. She's helping you take a bath after a brutal kidnapping and attempted murder, Paige, get a grip. Ok, I can do this. I open my eyes and all I can do is gape at her. My mouth hangs open and I stare unabashedly at her mostly naked body, raking my eyes from her bare feet all the way back up to her smiling eyes. I can see her arms twitching to cover up so I speak up before she has the opportunity. "Em, god, you're stunning. I swear I'll stop ogling you and I promise I'm not a complete perv, but goddamn, woman. You are inhumanly gorgeous." My babbling earns me a hearty laugh as Emily moves to turn on the water in the tub.

With her head still turned away from me, she begins to speak. "I know you're pretty seriously hurt and this is supposed to be completely non-sexual, but I'm having some serious issues keeping myself in check right now." The sound of her voice echoes over tile and running water before she turns her head back to face me again. "Your reaction just now made me realize that I want you looking at me that way. I mean, I've felt it before, obviously, when we've gotten more – intimate – but I've never felt more beautiful, more wanted than I do right now." She brings her eyes up to lock with mine. "Right now, standing here in front of you I can honestly say that I've never seen anyone, anything more beautiful – more perfect than you." The flush on my skin races from my exposed chest up my arms and neck, landing on the tips of my ears. Emily slides her fingers beneath the waistband of her panties and slowly draws them down her legs and to the ground before she steps out of them completely.

I lick my lips unconsciously and do my absolute best to maintain eye contact. I know once I look at her completely nude form I'll turn into a quivering mess and I'd like to maintain my composure for a least a little longer. I see her approaching as she brings her hand to my cheek, caressing softly, before connecting our lips in a passionate kiss. Every nerve ending is on fire as she draws back, stepping into full view. "Paige." The sound of her voice draws my eyes to her lips. "Paige, darling, I want you to look at me." I nod, unblinking and steel myself for a moment before allowing my eyes to travel down the lithe form of her body.

"Holy shit."